Part 3

Unexpectedly, the younger brother lowered his head even more, looking completely at a loss.

Zhujia sighed helplessly and said, “Alright, I was just joking. You two go play now.”

Mo Yichen’s younger brother nodded and quickly turned to leave, trying to pull his sister along. However, the younger sister turned back and winked at Zhujia. “Sister-in-law, my name is Mo Qingqing, and my brother’s name is Mo Chengxin. I’ll find you to play again next time, okay?”

Zhujia smiled and waved at them.

Hearing the background chatter, Xiao Wen couldn’t resist falling asleep. Zhujia gently laid him back in the stroller and covered him with a light blanket.

Just then, someone else approached. “Jiajia, so here you are.”

Zhujia looked up, surprised to see her biological father! Searching through her inherited memories, she recalled that their relationship was poor, and she hadn’t been home for a year.

Almost unconsciously, Zhujia called out, “Dad.”

Zhu Tianyao froze for a moment, his tone bitter as he said, “Jiajia, even though you’re married to Mo Yichen now, there’s still such a big gap between our families. I’m always worried that you’ll suffer.”

His eyes fell on Xiao Wen in the stroller. “And this child—what’s the story?”

Zhujia hesitated, unsure how to respond, and remained silent for a moment.

“Never mind,” Zhu Tianyao sighed. “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to. I just worry about you being mistreated. If things ever get too hard, you can come back home.”

He looked at his daughter, familiar yet distant.

It had been so long since the two had talked properly. Ever since Zhujia fell for Mo Yichen at first sight years ago, as if under a spell, their father-daughter relationship had grown worse by the day. Zhu Tianyao often wondered, if he hadn’t taken her out that day and let her meet Mo Yichen, would her life have been much happier?

“Dad, don’t worry. I’ll take good care of myself. I’ll visit you when I can.”

Zhujia felt shy. Having little experience dealing with a biological father, she relied on instinct to sense his genuine concern and an unfamiliar warmth.

Zhu Tianyao was almost incredulous. His daughter hadn’t returned home in so long, and his eyes turned moist as he said, “Alright, come back when you can.”

Zhujia nodded and glanced at the time. “Dad, the banquet is about to start. Let’s go in together.”

With that, she pushed Xiao Wen’s stroller and walked with Zhu Tianyao back to the banquet hall.

The following evening unfolded with formal proceedings. The host delivered an opening speech, followed by Mo Ronghua, Xiao Wen’s grandfather, giving a personal address to bless and express hope for the child’s future.

There was also a ceremony to present Xiao Wen with a certificate and take his footprints. Holding Xiao Wen, Zhujia watched as staff carefully painted his tiny feet with red dye and pressed them onto a hard-covered “Full-Month Certificate.”

On it were two adorable red footprints. Zhujia then took a pen and wrote:

“To Mo Wen,Wishing you peace, joy, and a smooth life.”